Page 111 of Best I Never Had

“Hi,” Shawn answers. I keep my gaze on my wineglass loosely held in my hands.

“I’m going to grab some of those sliders before they run out,” José says before scurrying off to the food table, ignoring the accusatory glare I’m giving him. When we’re left alone, Shawn finally faces me.

“Fancy seeing you here,” he says as I peek up at him through an embarrassed smile.

I finally let out a nervous laugh as we work through our embarrassment. Mine more than his because it was me who walked out on our date. Me who left him behind at a nice restaurant to have sex with another man.

“Hi,” I say with a voice that sounds more like I should be saying sorry.

“So I’m having a serious problem with this girl I kinda like,” he starts to say. “You see, she ditched me on our first date. Maybe you can help me figure out what to do so that I can finally sweep her off her feet.”

My hand moves to cover my mouth as a wide smile spreads across my face. “I’m so sorry about that,” I say, my brows curving inwards as I plead my apology.

“You can make it up to me,” he says, leaning a bit closer. “How about a redo?”

I sigh. “I’m not the best company as of late.”

He bobs his head up and down. “That’s okay,” he says, understanding laced into the calmness of his voice. “We’ll take things slow.”

“Slow,” I repeat.

“Slow.”

“I can do slow.”

The night continues with more appetizer-type foods like crispy coconut prawns and fried mac and cheese balls. The mood and spirits around the party liven as more alcohol is consumed. By the time I’m ready to call it a night, I feel significantly lifted. Like I have something to look forward to other than a long night wallowing alone.

“I should head out,” I announce, my third glass of red wine running through me. “I have a long travel day tomorrow.”

Shawn tosses back whatever remains are in the glass tumbler he’s holding and checks his watch. “I should head out too,” he says casually, placing his empty glass on a nearby table. He turns to me, lightly placing his hand on the small of my back. “We’ll walk out together.”

I nod, taking one last glance at José, his smile wide and excited, before Shawn and I walk toward the coat check and exit the building.

Once Shawn and I walk through the heavy revolving doors, the air outside is chillier than when I walked in. The clouds in the sky look menacing, even against the darkness.

“They had snow in the forecast,” he announces, gently placing his hand on my back again, this time wrapping his fingers to lightly grip my waist. “It looks like we might have a white Christmas this year.”

“It’s been a while since Manhattan’s had a white Christmas,” I comment as he steps toward the curb to hail a cab. Just as I wrap my coat around myself tighter, a cab stops in front of Shawn. “It’s going to be hell catchinganother,” I add as he starts to open the back passenger door. “Why don’t you go ahead and take it? I can walk.”

“We’ll share it.” He steps aside and gestures for me to enter the car.

“But you’re on the opposite side of town.”

He tilts his head toward the open door, further urging me to get in and out of the bitter cold. “It’s fine.”

I finally budge, stepping toward the car as my heels click against the hard pavement. Once inside the warm car with the heat blasting through the vents at full power, I turn to Shawn.

“You really didn’t have to share a cab,” I say apologetically.

“And let you walk home all alone?” he says with an incredulous tilt of his head that naturally brings his palm toward his chest. “What kind of gentleman would that make me?”

“Well, thank you,” I say with a shy huff of laughter. “It saves me from having to unthaw my feet in a warm bath when I get home.”

We pull up to my apartment quickly, the hotel not being too far, and the taxi pulls to a stop on the road. Shawn turns to me.

“I’ll call you,” he says in a low voice, his gaze zeroing in on my lips.

I swallow the lump lodged in my throat. “Yeah,” I say too quickly. My hand hooks onto the door handle, clicking it open as I shift a little closer to the exit. “Thank you for the ride,” I almost whisper.

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